Today, a new phase of the exchange concluded, resulting in the release of a group of severely wounded and seriously ill Ukrainian defenders from Russian captivity.

According to agreements reached in Istanbul, a group of service members has returned from Russian captivity, including representatives from various military branches such as the Airborne Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, and the State Border Guard Service as well as the National Guard of Ukraine.

Among those released today are defenders who fought for Mariupol and had been in captivity for over three years. All those returned are men who served in various military ranks.

Some of them were considered missing in action.

Overall, Ukrainians returning home fought in the Donetsk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, and Luhansk directions.

The released defenders will undergo necessary medical examinations, receive physical and psychological rehabilitation support, and all due payments for the duration of their captivity.

This exchange is part of a larger operation aimed at the return of military personnel who are severely wounded or seriously ill.

The Coordinating Headquarters continues its work and will soon conduct the next phase of releasing Ukrainian defenders.

We are committed to bringing everyone home!

Glory to Ukraine!